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When young people embark on a coming out journey, a strong support system is essential to their sense of safety, belonging, and self-worth. When parents, teachers, and counselors respond with empathy, curiosity, and affirmation, they help create an environment where young people can explore and express their identities without fear. This support not only strengthens trust and mental wellbeing but also sends a powerful message: that every young person deserves to be seen, respected, and valued for who they are.
This month, Jessica Kingsley Publishers Library draws from our Gender Diversity and Sexuality collection to focus on coming out journeys, from advice for those embarking on the process, to practical guidance for those offering support.
Coming out to oneself in the mirror is one thing—coming out to loved ones is another. There can be enormous pressure for adolescents facing “the big talk” with their family; but parents can make the conversation easier with awareness of their own beliefs and biases.
Read this sample chapter from Out: A Parent’s Guide to Supporting your LGBTQ+ Kid, in which author and licensed therapist John Sovec offers sound advice to help parents create a safe space for their kids.
One of the challenges of coming out as nonbinary or genderqueer is doing so with the knowledge that wider society may not be yet comfortable with our authentic selves.
In this selection from their book They/Them/Their, nonbinary writer and editor Eris Young describes different aspects of navigating the larger world while embracing a genderqueer identity, from what it means to "pass” as cisgender to the intricacies of sex and dating.
The journey of coming out as asexual doesn’t always receive attention. Emerging as “ace” means understanding different forms of attraction, as well as different ways to build and nurture healthy relationships.
Writer and editor Michele Kirichanskaya speaks directly to those navigating their ace journey in her book Ace Notes: Tips and Tricks on Existing in an Allo World.
Read this chapter in which Kirichanskaya offers candid advice and support for ace individuals, including tips on assessing a situation before coming out, preparing for challenging conversations, and staying safe.
A significant part of the coming out process for anyone—but especially trans individuals—is deciding who to tell.
In their insightful book for teens, Trans Teen Survival Guide, Owl Fisher and Fox Fisher offer this chapter with advice on not only how to come out to others, but deciding who should be selected for that circle of trust, and incude firsthand testimonials and sample coming out letters.
Sometimes a safe and healthy coming out experience can have everything to do with timing. Deciding when to come out to someone can be as important as who that person is.
Lois Shearing recounts their own experience coming out in this sample chapter from their book Bi the Way: The Bisexual Guide to Life. Read this excerpt and discover insights on not only coming out, but pushing back against bi erasure, seeking bi role models, and more.
